Zippered shoe sole with one or more compartments

ABSTRACT

The current invention is directed toward an item of footwear with upper and lower soles, which are removably attached to each other by a zipper, where the sole contains one or more compartments created by mating cavities formed into the mating faces of the upper and lower soles. Access to the compartment(s) is achieved through zippers and a flexible sole. A zipper is located along the fringe of the sole, separating the sole into an upper sole and a lower sole. A zipper encompassing the entire fringe of the sole allows for complete removal of the lower sole. A zipper encompassing part of the fringe combined with the flexible sole allows easy access to a compartment. The existence of a compartment is, optionally, hidden by making the zipper the same color as the sole, or by hiding the zipper under a protective sleeve.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was not federally sponsored.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to footwear, and more specifically, to footwear with one or more compartments incorporated in the sole. Footwear has existed for thousands of years, but significant improvements on the design of footwear only started a couple of hundred years ago. From shoelaces to rubber soles, footwear has increased in durability, functionality, and ease of use. Shoes are now adapted to specific situations to fulfill specific needs. As people travel outside their house, there is a need to store important items on his or her person, including keys, identifications cards, credit cards, or the like.

While performing athletic activities, such as running, walking, tennis, etc., retaining these items may be difficult because carrying a bag to hold these items or placing them in a pocket would hinder an athlete's performance. Also, when traveling in areas where theft and pick pocketing is a possibility, a hidden location to store important items is highly desirable. At the same time, these items must be easily accessible for use when needed.

The prior art has several examples of attempts to resolve this problem. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/823,683, to Shih, discloses a sole with a zipper that attaches the sole to the shoe cover. The entire sole may be removed, and replaced by other soles. While this may allow for one shoe to adapt to many different situations, this invention does not provide compartments or areas to retain items inside of the sole itself in which things of value can be stored or hidden.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/295,679, to Gross, discloses layers of soles that can be attached together by means of a zipper. One or more soles can be placed together to create varying thicknesses of a sole of an item of footwear. Though Gross discloses a sole that is split into multiple levels, there are no compartments in or between these levels. Furthermore, even if Gross did teach a compartment in between layers, Gross' preferred method of attachment, namely, two prongs coming out the upper side of each layer, would not provide the side closure that is taught by the present invention; it would be quite easy for a key left in between the layers of Gross' invention to slide out during a walk or run.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,008, to Ruff, discloses a compartment with a drawer contained in the heel of an item of footwear. The drawer slides in and out of the compartment freely and is secured within the heel of the shoe by an external strap which connects to the shoe by a hook-and-loop fastener. This external strap may become detached, though, during physical activity, causing the drawer to slide out and the contents of the drawer to become lost. Additionally, removing and replacing the drawer, as well as continuously checking the strap is secure, is burdensome to the wearer of the shoe. The external strap will also notify prospective pickpockets as to a possible location of valuables on the person. Finally, to create a cavity into which the drawer can slide, which is sturdy enough to withstand the weight of a 200 pound or more runner and not deform to the point where the drawer could not be removed after a run, it would be necessary to use a very strong material, such as aluminum, which is also relatively heavy when compared with the weight of the average shoe sole. In addition, the heel of the shoe is one of the major parts of the shoe where it is desirably to have considerable cushioning, to protect the heel of the foot. Putting a metal-lined drawer cavity only millimeters below the heel of the user would be counterproductive to the goal of providing a heel cushion in the shoe.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,898,875, to Ruff, discloses a compartment with a drawer contained in the heel of an item of footwear. The drawer is retained in the shoe by means of an elastic thread inside the shoe and cannot be removed from the shoe by the user. Because of the mechanical limitations of the drawer and the elastic thread used to retain the drawer, only a fraction of the entire footprint of the shoe can be used to store items. The elastic thread retaining the drawer may wear out over time and cause the drawer to hang out of the shoe. Any external protrusions from the shoe will notify prospective pickpockets as to a possible location of valuables on the person.

Thus there has existed a long-felt need for footwear where the sole contains one or more compartments that are secure, reliable, hidden, and large enough to carry multiple various items.

The current invention provides just such a solution by having an item of footwear with a sole, where the sole contains one or more compartments, comprising at least an upper portion and a lower portion. These compartments may extend to edges of the sole, limited only by necessary support for the upper portion of the sole, such that a user of the invention has adequate support for his or her feet while using the shoe. Access to the compartment(s) is achieved through zippers and a flexible sole. A zipper is located along the fringe of the sole, separating the sole into an upper sole and a lower sole. A zipper encompassing the entire fringe of the sole allows for complete removal of the lower sole. A zipper encompassing part of the fringe combined with the flexible sole allows easy access to a compartment. The existence of a compartment or compartments can be hidden by making the zipper the same color as the sole, or by hiding the zipper under a protective sleeve.

Unlike the prior art, the current invention has one or more compartments where the items contained therein are less likely to be lost. Drawers retained by hook-and-loop fastening straps can become easily dislodged from the shoe during physical activity. Elastic threads can wear out and become loose. Drawers can fall out of the compartment or, through the consistent pounding of a heavy jogger on the top of the cavity into which the drawer fits, become jammed inside the shoe. The current invention solves this problem by allowing direct access to the compartment, then sealing the compartment with a zipper. Further, a drawer, especially with a strap, is more visible to possible thieves than that of a zipper made to be the same color as the sole, especially when hidden by a protective sleeve.

Additionally, the compartments in the current invention allow for more usable space than that of a drawer. There is no need for the extra space required by a drawer with its corresponding reinforced cavity, and a fastening device. Since there is direct access to each compartment, the entire sole of the footwear can be utilized, not just the heel, resulting in additional space to store valuable items. This simpler design will also result in reduced manufacturing costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object of the invention to provide an item of footwear having compartments for storing multiple various items in the sole of the footwear.

Other objects of the invention include the following.

To provide an item of footwear having easy access to one or more compartments in the sole of the footwear.

To provide an item of footwear where the zipper between the upper sole and lower sole can be colored to either contrast with the one or more colors found in the upper and lower soles, for fashion, or to blend in with the colors found in the upper and lower soles to disguise the existence of the cavities.

To provide an item of footwear where the zipper between the two compartments can be hidden from the view of others by a covering of vulcanized rubber or some other material, which will disguise the existence of the zipper.

It is a final object of the invention to provide an item of footwear where compartments are hidden so that they do not attract the attention of possible thieves.

It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an external side view of the footwear with the zipper encompassing the entire sole.

FIG. 2 is cut-away, side view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with two compartments in the sole.

FIG. 3 is an cut-away, rear view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with a compartment in the sole.

FIG. 4 is a cut-away, bottom view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with the zipper shown around the sole of the footwear and two compartments in the sole.

FIG. 5 is a cut-away, bottom view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with one large compartment located in the sole of the footwear.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away, bottom view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with two compartments in the sole of the footwear and a zipper encompassing the inside half of the sole of the footwear.

FIG. 7 is a cut-away, side view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with the lower sole detached from the upper sole, with two compartments when the upper and lower soles are attached together.

FIG. 8 is a cut-away, internal side view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with the zipper on the back half of the sole, and a compartment that is accessed by flexing the sole of the footwear.

FIG. 9 is a cut-away, rear view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with the zipper on the inside of the sole, and a compartment that is accessed by flexing the sole of the footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an external side view of the footwear with a zipper (2) encircling the entire sole. The invention in this iteration comprises a sole (1), which is comprised of an upper sole (4) and a lower sole (3). The zipper (2) is attached around the entire outside of the sole and removably connects the lower sole (3) to the upper sole (4). The upper sole (4) is permanently attached to the upper portion of the footwear, technically referred to as an “upper” (99).

FIG. 2 is a cut-away, internal side view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with two compartments in the sole. The inside of the sole (1) has a front compartment (6) and a rear compartment (7). The sole (1) is attached to the upper of the footwear (99) by a variety of means known in the art. The compartments are designed to hold important items, such as keys, credit cards, money, or even jewels, gold and other valuables.

FIG. 3 is a cut-away, internal front view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with a compartment in the sole (1). The rear compartment (7) is located inside of the sole (1). On the outside of the sole (1) is a zipper (2) that is attached around the entire outside of the sole, which separates the lower sole portion (3) from the upper sole portion (4). The upper sole (4) is permanently connected to the upper portion of the footwear (99). A protective sleeve (11) is flush with the upper portion of the footwear (99) and hides the zipper (2) that is attached around the entire outside of the sole so as to not draw attention to the existence of a compartment. It is envisioned that the protective sleeve can be made from vulcanized rubber or some other compound frequently found circumscribing the sole of a shoe, or it can be made from some other material which is designed to hide the zipper (2). The protective sleeve (11) allows a user of the invention superior security over existing prior art in that a user of the invention can hide the existence of the compartments, as opposed to some of the prior art which teaches a drawer but makes it apparent to all who may glance at the shoe that there is a compartment within the shoe.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with the zipper (2) that is attached around the entire outside of the sole (1) and two compartments, a front compartment (6) and a rear compartment (7). The illustration of two compartments is not intended to be limiting, as it is envisioned that various iterations of the invention could provide from one up to numerous compartments, depending upon the intended use of the shoe.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with a large compartment (8) inside of the sole (1). There is a zipper (2) that is attached around the rear half of the sole (9) that allows access to the large compartment (8). It is important to note that in the various iterations of the invention, not only can the number, size, and locations of the compartments be adjusted depending upon the intended use of the shoe, but the location and extent of the zipper (2) can be varied depending upon where the compartments are located and how access to the compartments is intended to be facilitated through location of the zipper.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with a front compartment (6) and a rear compartment (7) in the sole (1) of the footwear. The zipper that attaches around the inside half of the sole (10) allows access to both the front compartment (6) and the rear compartment (7).

FIG. 7 is an internal, cut-away, side view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with the lower sole (3) detached from the upper sole (4). There is a zipper (2) that connects the lower sole (3) to the upper sole (4). The upper sole (4) is attached to the upper portion of the footwear (99). When the lower sole (3) is connected to the upper sole (4), this creates a front compartment (6) and a rear compartment (7). In this iteration of the invention, the front compartment (6) and rear compartment (7) are separated by a thin layer of sole material that provides structural support.

FIG. 8 is an internal, cut-away, side view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with a zipper (9) that is attached around the rear half of the sole, which attaches the lower sole (3) to the upper sole (4). Inside of the sole (1) there is a large compartment (8), which separates the sole (1) into a lower sole (3) and a upper sole (4). The upper sole (4) is attached to the upper portion of the footwear (99). The zipper (9) in this case exists only around the rear portion of the shoe, thereby allowing access to the large compartment (8).

FIG. 9 is an internal, cut-away, rear view of the footwear in FIG. 1 with a zipper (10) that attaches around the inside half of the sole. The rear compartment (7) is accessed by the flexible lower sole (3). The upper sole (4) is attached to the upper portion of the footwear (99). 

1. An item of footwear, comprising: a sole with an outer edge, where the sole comprises an upper sole portion and a lower sole portion, where the upper and lower sole portions are connected by a zipper, where the zipper extends all the way around the outer edge of the sole, where the upper sole portion and lower sole portion each contains one or more compartments or cavities where these compartments or cavities separate the sole of the footwear to create an upper and a lower sole, and where the one or more compartments or cavities in the upper sole portion and lower sole portion are located such that when the upper sole portion and lower sole portion are zipped together, each of the one or more compartments in the upper sole portion mates with each of the one or more compartments in the lower sole portion, and where the upper sole and lower sole are not one piece of material; an upper portion of the footwear that is attached to the upper sole, where the upper portion of footwear is a wearable portion of footwear.
 2. The sole of claim 1 additionally comprising of a sleeve that hides the zipper from view.
 3. The sole of claim 1, where the zipper is of the same color as the outer edge of the sole, such that the zipper blends in with the outer edge of the sole and is substantially inconspicuous.
 4. The sole of claim 1, additionally comprising of a mechanism to lock the zipper and restrain its movement.
 5. The sole of claim 1, where there is one large compartment that exists from the arch of the sole to the heel of the sole.
 6. The sole of claim 1, additionally comprising of additional support members located inside the compartment(s) to support the upper sole.
 7. The sole of claim 1 where there are two compartments with one located in the heel and one located near the front of the footwear.
 8. The sole of claim 7, additionally comprising of additional support members located inside each compartment to support the upper sole.
 9. An item of footwear, comprising: a sole with an outer edge, where the sole comprises an upper sole portion and a lower sole portion, where the upper and lower sole portions are connected by a zipper, where the zipper extends around the outer edge of the sole from the front of the shoe to the rear of the shoe, where the upper sole portion and lower sole portion each contains one or more compartments or cavities where these compartments or cavities separate the sole of the footwear to create an upper and a lower sole, and where the one or more compartments or cavities in the upper sole portion and lower sole portion are located such that when the upper sole portion and lower sole portion are zipped together, each of the one or more compartments in the upper sole portion mates with each of the one or more compartments in the lower sole portion, and where the upper sole and lower sole are one piece of material; an upper portion of the footwear that is attached to the upper sole, where the upper portion of footwear is a wearable portion of footwear.
 10. The sole of claim 9, additionally comprising of a sleeve that hides the zipper from view.
 11. The sole of claim 9, where the zipper is of the same color as the outer edge of the sole, such that the zipper blends in with the outer edge of the sole and is substantially inconspicuous.
 12. The sole of claim 9, additionally comprising of a mechanism to lock the zipper and restrain its movement.
 13. The sole of claim 9 where there is one large compartment located in the sole.
 14. The sole of claim 9, additionally comprising of additional support members located inside the compartment(s) to support the upper sole.
 15. The sole of claim 9 where there are two compartments with one located in the heel and one located near the front of the footwear.
 16. The sole of claim 15, additionally comprising of additional support members located inside each compartment to support the upper sole.
 17. An item of footwear, comprising: a sole with an outer edge, where the sole comprises an upper sole portion and a lower sole portion, where the upper and lower sole portions are connected by a zipper, where the zipper extends around outer edge of the sole from the midpoint of the footwear, around the rear of the footwear, and to the opposing midpoint of the footwear, where the upper sole portion and lower sole portion each contains one or more compartments or cavities where these compartments or cavities separate the sole of the footwear to create an upper and a lower sole, and where the one or more compartments or cavities in the upper sole portion and lower sole portion are located such that when the upper sole portion and lower sole portion are zipped together, each of the one or more compartments in the upper sole portion mates with each of the one or more compartments in the lower sole portion, and where the upper sole and lower sole are one piece of material; an upper portion of the footwear that is attached to the upper sole, where the upper portion of footwear is a wearable portion of footwear.
 18. The sole of claim 17, additionally comprising of a sleeve that hides the zipper from view.
 19. The sole of claim 17, where the zipper is of the same color as the outer edge of the sole, such that the-zipper blends in with the outer edge of the sole and is substantially inconspicuous.
 20. The sole of claim 17, additionally comprising of a mechanism to lock the zipper and restrain its movement.
 21. The sole of claim 17 where there is one large compartment located in the sole.
 22. The sole of claim 17, additionally comprising of additional support members located inside the compartment(s) to support the upper sole.
 23. An item of footwear, consisting of: a sole with an outer edge, where the sole comprises an upper sole portion and a lower sole portion, where the upper and lower sole portions are connected by a zipper, where the zipper extends at least part of the way around the outer edge of the sole, where the zipper is of the same color as the outer edge of the sole, such that the zipper blends in with the outer edge of the sole and is substantially inconspicuous, where the upper sole portion and lower sole portion each contains one or more compartments or cavities where these compartments or cavities separate the sole of the footwear to create an upper and a lower sole, and where the one or more compartments or cavities in the upper sole portion and lower sole portion are located such that when the upper sole portion and lower sole portion are zipped together, each of the one or more compartments in the upper sole portion mates with each of the one or more compartments in the lower sole portion; an upper portion of the footwear that is attached to the upper sole, where the upper portion of footwear is a wearable portion of footwear, additionally comprising one or more support members located inside the one or more compartments to support the upper sole. 